Chris Burke’s opener right on half-time put Brum in position to secure a top-six finish if other results went their way.

But instead, it turned out to be a night of frustration for boss Chris Hughton.

The Birmingham boss faces going into the last two games of the regular season without skipper Steven Caldwell, who limped off after 35 minutes.

“Steven is a tough lad,” said Hughton. “He has been a mainstay for us this season and we would miss him.

“We need one point from two games but they don’t come much tougher than Brighton and Reading.

“I really hope we can get over the line because the lads have been excellent and really deserve it.”

It was clear straight away how much Caldwell will be missed when Pablo Ibanez replaced him at centre-half.

Jason Scotland, who is chasing a new Ipswich contract, muscled his way past the Spaniard – and only a good stop by Colin Doyle saved the visitors.

Doyle was starting in place of Boaz Myhill and made a brilliant save from a Grant Leadbitter free-kick, which burst through the wall.

Birmingham soaked up the pressure and stunned the home crowd seconds before the break.

Andros Townsend – who spent the first half of last season at Ipswich on loan from Tottenham – played a cross-field ball for Burke, who planted his shot past Arran Lee-Barrett from the edge of the penalty area.

Substitute Emmanuel-Thomas found a bottom corner with a well driven 18-yard shot and also hit the crossbar as Ipswich swamped Brum in the second half.

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell said: “When he is in that sort of form, well I won’t say he is unplayable, but he is some player.”

Lee-Barrett denied Marlon King three times and Aaron Cresswell saved off the line from Nikola Zigic.